BAYANI Fernando on Tuesday said that he would soon quit his post as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to pursue his presidential bid in the 2010 national elections.

“There is no turning back. Definitely I’m resigning soon para ‘di mapagkamalian ang aking susunod na hakbang o desisyon,” Fernando said even as he failed to give the exact date for his resignation.

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set December 1 as the deadline for the filing of the certificate of candidacies.

Fernando, a member of ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, failed to get the support of his party mates who choose Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to be its standard bearer.

For this reason, he said he might run as an independent candidate.

The MMDA chief said he is unfazed even if he runs without a political party, adding that he has a nationwide-based organization of people who, he said, believes the country needs a leader like him with a political will.

“The presidency is all about governance so what we need is someone with executive abilities, especially someone who is an engineer since governance is about engineering,” said Fernando, who is a mechanical engineer by profession.

In boosting his credentials for the presidency, Fernando cited his political career in Marikina City, where he served as mayor for three consecutive terms starting in 1992, and where, he said, he showed how a community could be transformed through good governance and cleanliness.

“If I can manage Metro Manila and transform it, I can also manage the country,” he said.

Fernando said his clear leadership in the cleanup and restoration operations of flooded areas following the devastation brought by Typhoon Ondoy is just an example of what he can do if elected as president.

The official will base his platform on political will. “That is not a promise… that is something I have been doing a long time ago. Others still have to prove their worth, or make promises, while I walk my talk.”

Obviously referring to other candidates, Fernando said the country would not progress through popularity, sympathy, and emotions only.

“The people must start doing away with popularity. They must choose their leaders who can get the country out of the hell hole,” he stressed. “We have to elect a president who will know what to do from Day One.”

A survey conducted by pollster firm Pulse Asia on 1,800 voting-age respondents from October 22 to 30 showed that Fernando still had a one percent voter preference, similar to Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer and Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III topped the survey with 44 percent.

But Fernando downplayed the survey results, saying those are “temporary.”

“Candidates should not rely too much on survey results. These results do not last and do not results to votes come election time,” he said adding that party organization and reach matters more than survey ratings,” he added. (AH/Sunnex)